There's a ram in there, and maybe some goats and chickens, too.
No, that's not a low-floating cloud. That's Shaun, the never-shorn sheep.
Tasmanian farmers Netty and Peter Hazell found and captured what they believe to be the world's wooliest sheep. At six years old, Shaun, named after a children's TV character, is thought to be have been wandering around the scrubland for years on his own, and has never been shorn.
"He couldn't see very well because of the wool over his face, so I snuck up behind him and grabbed him," Peter told ABC of Shaun's daring capture. "Then Netty and I went and got the ute [utility vehicle] and put him in the back and brought him into the yard."
Shaun literally had the wool over his eyes.
"It is the heaviest sheep I've ever lifted," Netty said. "I just couldn't believe it, I just could not believe a sheep could have so much wool."
It is estimated that Shaun has about 25 kg, or 55 lbs, of wool growing on his frame. If he is carrying more, he could possibly earn the world record, which is currently held by a New Zealand sheep named Shrek, who's wool weighed in at 27kg.
Matting don't matter. This wool is still well.
Based on his tag, it is thought that Shaun came from a farm on Tasmania's east coast, which is a pretty incredible distance for the ram to have travelled, especially while growing all that wool.
Peter Hazell is surprised at how Shaun has managed to survive in his condition because, "usually they get cast and can't get up, or they get fly-struck or the hot weather gets to them."
Not only is Shaun a survivor, but the Hazells, along with sheep judge Ray Peters, believe that the wool is still in excellent condition.
"There's three or four good jumpers in there," Netty said.
Three of four sheep jumpers? Only a few more and a fence and we've got ourselves a fine way to fall asleep.
(by Myka Fox)